2024 Presidential Campaign Blog

RNC Announces Criteria and Date for First Debate in Milwaukee

RNC Announces Criteria and Date for First Debate in Milwaukee

WASHINGTON – Today, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the first Republican presidential primary debate will take place in Milwaukee, WI on August 23. Should enough candidates qualify to make it necessary, there will be a second debate on August 24. 

McDaniel also announced the criteria to qualify for the debate. The criteria are grouped below as follows: candidate status; polling; fundraising; and candidate pledging. 

Candidate Status:

• Be eligible to run (natural born U.S. citizen, resident for 14+ years, 35 years or older). 
• Have declared his or her candidacy.
• Have an active FEC Form 2 (Statement of Candidacy) filed with the FEC in which they identify as a candidate for the Republican nomination. 
• Have an active FEC Form 1 (Statement of Organization) filed with the FEC designating the candidate’s principal campaign committee. 

Polling:

• Poll at least 1% in three national polls OR 1% in two national polls and 1% in one early state poll from two separate “carve out” states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina) recognized by the RNC. For a poll to be recognized, it must:
  • Survey at least 800 registered likely Republican voters through a mix of live calls, integrated voice response, online panels, and/or text message.
  • Not overly weight responses of any individual cohort beyond the margin of the error of the poll.
  • Ask the question on presidential preference prior to any question which may allow potential bias.
  • Not be a conducted by a polling company affiliated with a candidate or candidate committee.
  • Meet this polling requirement no later than 48 hours prior to the first scheduled debate and must be conducted on or after July 1, 2023.

Fundraising:

• Have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors to candidate’s principal presidential campaign committee (or exploratory committee), with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20+ states and/or territories. 
• Present this evidence to the RNC no later than 48 hours prior to the first scheduled debate. 

Candidate Pledge:

• Have signed pledge agreeing not to participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debate for the remainder of the election cycle. 
• Have signed pledge agreeing to support the eventual party nominee. 
• Have signed RNC data-sharing agreement. 
• Present signed pledges and agreement to the RNC no later than 48 hours prior to the first scheduled debate. 

To participate in the August debate, candidates must meet all criteria listed in the four groups above. Qualified candidates will be placed on stage according to polling, with the highest polling candidate in the center. Criteria for future debates may include higher thresholds for polling and fundraising.

“I am excited to announce the criteria for our first presidential primary debate in Milwaukee on August 23. The RNC is committed to putting on a fair, neutral, and transparent primary process and the qualifying criteria set forth will put our party and eventual nominee in the best position to take back the White House come November 2024.” – RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel 

RNC Announces Leadership for 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

RNC Announces Leadership for 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

WASHINGTON – Today, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced Indiana Republican Party National Committeewoman Anne Hathaway will serve as the Chairwoman of the Party's Committee on Arrangements (COA), which is in charge of organizing the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

"Hathaway served on the Committee on Arrangements from 2019 until 2020 and currently serves on RNC’s Site Selection Committee as Chair and Debates Committee as Co-Chair. She also serves as a member of the Indiana Republican State Central Committee.

Chairwoman McDaniel said, “I am excited to announce that Anne will be leading our 2024 convention in Milwaukee, where we will showcase the best of our party. Anne brings decades of dedicated service to our party, and she is the perfect choice to lead and organize our convention.”

Hathaway said, “I am honored to have been chosen by Chairwoman McDaniel to execute her vision for an excellent convention in Milwaukee. I look forward to the work ahead that will culminate in the nomination of the next President and Vice President of the United States.”

In addition, Ron Kaufman will assist Ms. Hathaway in planning the 2024 convention by serving as General Chairman. Kaufman currently serves as the National Committeeman for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He previously served as the Treasurer of the Republican National Committee and Chaired the 2020 RNC Convention Site Selection Committee.

“I am thrilled to name Ron as General Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements,” said Chairwoman McDaniel. “Ron is a tireless warrior for the Republican Party, brings decades of experience, and is the perfect choice to assist in delivering the best Republican National Convention yet.”

Kaufman said, “It is a privilege to continue to serve the Republican Party and to have been chosen to serve on the convention team. I am thankful to Chairwoman McDaniel for placing her trust in me as we work to deliver an incredible convention.

Republican National Committee (RNC) Statement on Presidential Primary Calendar

RNC Statement on Presidential Primary Calendar

WASHINGTON – Today, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on the presidential primary calendar:

"The RNC unanimously passed its rules over a year ago and solidified the traditional nominating process the American people know and understand. The DNC has decided to break a half-century precedent and cause chaos by altering their primary process, and ultimately abandoning millions of Americans in Iowa and New Hampshire."

The Republican National Committee (RNC) Announces New Leadership

RNC Announces New Leadership

DANA POINT, CA – The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced their leadership today following the General Session elections at the 2023 RNC Winter Meeting:

• Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel
• Co-Chairman Drew McKissick (SC)
• Treasurer K.C. Crosbie (KY)
• Secretary Vicki Drummond (AL)

“This week proved that Republicans can come together, hash out our differences, and emerge stronger than ever. The RNC is going to be working every day to make sure the GOP takes back the Senate and White House in 2024.” - RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Co-Chairman Drew McKissick, Treasurer K.C. Crosbie, and Secretary Vicki Drummond

Republican National Committee (RNC) Statement On Senator Tim Scott's Response

RNC Statement On Senator Tim Scott's Response

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on Senator Tim Scott's response to Biden's joint address:

“After a joint address packed with partisan lies, it was refreshing to hear my friend Senator Tim Scott hold Joe Biden accountable for his record of failure and tell Americans the truth. Senator Scott’s inspiring response outlined our winning Republican agenda, which will unite our nation and create more opportunities for every American. His life is a testament to the American dream -- which Joe Biden and Democrats are actively trying to dismantle.”

Republican National Committee (RNC) Statement on Joe Biden's Joint Address

RNC Statement on Joe Biden's Joint Address

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement on Joe Biden's joint address:

“Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office have been an unqualified failure, including unprecedented attacks on energy workers, a humanitarian crisis at the border, and an America-last foreign policy agenda. Then there is his hyper-partisanship, as he and Democrats attempt to abolish the filibuster, pack the Supreme Court, and force through their H.R. 1 power grab. In his inaugural address, Biden called for unity. That was a lie, and our nation is worse off and more divided thanks to Joe Biden."